More on Kubel

A little more Kubel for DC....:)

Jason Kubel: While playing in the Arizona Fall League in 2004 Kubel, then 22 and considered one of the best hitting prospects in the game, suffered a devastating knee injury that cost him the entire 2005 season. Although he came back and played in '06 he wasn't remotely the same hitter. Most notably Kubel's post-injury strikeout rate has been much higher -- 147 in 835 PA, versus 193 in 1,770 PA prior to the injury. That's not just a result of playing at higher levels; that's evidence of damage to the engine.
What we saw in '07 was Kubel finally get back to the hitter he was before the injury. In the season's first two months Kubel struck out 33 times and walked 11 in 165 PA. In the next two months those numbers were 21/10 in 148 PA, a big drop in strikeout rate and K/BB. Over the last two months: 25/18 in 153 PA. Kubel, a disciplined hitter coming through the minors, regained that discipline in '07. His batting average and power followed. He's 26 this season and may actually be the Twins' best hitter during it; better than Justin Morneau, better than Joe Mauer.